To develop a fully automated method for quantifying net water uptake (NWU) in acute ischemic stroke using only non-contrast CT (NCCT) imaging, enhancing clinical assessment and decision-making.
Key Findings:
NWU can be computed using NCCT images alone, providing a practical alternative to conventional stroke assessment methods, with specific accuracy metrics.
The automated NWU quantification pipeline demonstrated reproducibility and efficiency in estimating infarct volumes, with results indicating a significant reduction in analysis time.
Interpretation:
The study suggests that an NCCT-only approach for NWU quantification can streamline workflows, minimize radiation exposure, and potentially improve patient outcomes by distinguishing reversible from irreversible tissue damage, thereby enhancing treatment strategies.
Limitations:
Challenges in accurately determining infarct volume from NCCT due to subtle hypodensity and limited contrast, which may be addressed in future research.
The reliance on expert-annotated lesion masks for algorithm development may introduce bias, highlighting the need for diverse datasets.
Conclusion:
The proposed method offers a fully automated, explainable approach for NWU estimation in acute ischemic stroke, potentially enhancing clinical decision-making and treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient care.
